[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 46 (Thursday, April 23, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H2300]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TAKE OUR DAUGHTERS TO WORK DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald) is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Take 
Our Daughters to Work Day. The Capitol Hill activities for Take Our 
Daughters to Work Day have been rescheduled for next Thursday because 
of the D.C. schools having academic testing today.
  Today many fathers and mothers took their daughters to work. Take Our 
Daughters to Work Day was created in 1993 to help maintain that 
essential feeling of self-worth and enhance their understanding of what 
is possible and what they can accomplish if they put forth the effort.
  This is an important day for the millions of girls who are provided 
with the rare and much-needed opportunity to meet successful 
professional women and envision the immense possibilities that stand 
before them.
  Numerous studies have shown how many girls exhibit a strong and 
distinct sense of self-confidence until they reach the age of 11. Then 
there is a sudden drop in self-esteem, a lowered sense of self-worth, 
and intense feelings of insecurity about their own judgments and 
emotions. Take Our Daughters to Work Day is an effective way of 
maintaining their self-esteem.
  Last year, 48.3 million adults said that their company and their 
spouse's company participated in this special day. In addition, three 
in ten adults said that they or their spouse personally participated by 
taking a girl to their workplace, which equals 15.4 million people.
  Clearly, this is a day not only for this Nation's daughters but for 
parents, employers, and people who understand the value of investing in 
and training the younger generation to become better, stronger, and 
more effective members of the labor force in the years ahead.
  As we approach the new millennium, Take Our Daughters to Work Day and 
similar activities which promote reaching out to young girls and women 
will become even more essential. By the turn of the century, 8 out of 
every 10 women between the ages of 25 and 54 will be on the job because 
they want and, in most cases, need to work. For the first time in 
history, most new jobs will require education or training beyond high 
school.
  I hope that Members will participate in the Take Our Daughters to 
Work Day activities we have organized for our colleagues on Capitol 
Hill next week.
  Our Nation's daughters need to know who they are and what they can 
be, which will exceed far beyond any societal limitations that were 
placed on their foremothers and to some degree continue to this day.
  This knowledge and self-confidence help them develop more ambitious 
dreams, strive to take on more challenges, and become valuable leaders 
in America's future. We look forward to next week, Take Our Daughters 
to Work Day.

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